Extracts from a Paris letters.
--From the
Paris correspondence of the Baltimore
American we gather the following items:
A report has recently been in circulation that
M. de Lamartine was lying dangerously ill at
Macon.
The illustrious poet himself contradicts this statement in a note to one of the daily journals, declares that his health is excellent, and that he is incessantly occupied in preparing for the press the complete edition of his works published by himself.
Apropos of M deLamartine, I can relate an anecdote of the poet which illustrates his carelessness in pecuniary matters, and has not appeared in print in
America.
One day, early last summer, the author of the ‘"Meditations"’ entered a well known restaurant on the boulevard and ordered an ice. The proprietor of the establishment waited in person upon his distinguished customer, and, after some hesitation, said:
‘
‘"
Monsieur de Lamartine, I am one of your innumerable admirers, and would be delighted to subscribe for the complete edition of your works which is announced soon to be published.
Indeed, I would take two copies, one for my house in
Paris, and one for my country seat.
If you will take out the amount in
trade, I would be glad to furnish the refreshments for your
soirees, and I should also have the happiness of seeing you often."’
The poet gaily accepted the proposition, and, upon returning home, said to
Monsieur de Lamartine, "My dear, you have a credit, at the Cafe--, for 649 francs worth of ices,
charlottes russes, fromages glaces, montblancs and pains d'espagne."
Just before leaving
Paris for
Macon it occurred to
Lamartine to ascertain how many ices he had yet subject to order.
He accordingly sent for his bill, and discovered that he
owed the admiring restaurateur precisely six thousand francs!
There was a very singular trial, on Wednesday of this week, before the
Correctional Tribunal of
Versailles.
A workman was accused of robbing an infant's grave.
In the crime itself there was nothing extraordinary, but it would require a vivid imagination to divine the resurrectionist's motive.
It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner was separated from his wife, against whom he cherished most resentful feelings.
He wrote anonymous letters to the authorities, accusing the poor woman of infanticide, gave details as to where she had hid the body of the supposed victim, and robbed a grave in order to carry out his diabolical conspiracy.
The tables were, however, turned upon him, by the infliction of a sentence which will keep him from evil deeds for several years to come.
The Princess de Salms, a cousin of the Emperor Napoleon, has just died, of brain fever, at
Baden-Baden.
’
